TORONTO, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- The first telecasts by the ESPN cable network, Washington at Toronto and the Los Angeles Lakers at Portland, highlight the second night of NBA openers Wednesday.
On Tuesday night, Orlando forward Grant Hill made a triumphant return to the league after two years worth of injuries, recording 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists in a 95-88 win over the Boston Celtics, while the three-time defending champion Lakers, minus Shaquille O'Neal and Rick Fox, were beaten by the San Antonio Spurs, 87-82, and Sacramento buried Cleveland, 94-67.
Every team except the Kings is in action Wednesday. Of note is 7-5 rookie center Yao Ming making his NBA debut at Indiana, where he played in the World Championships for his native China this summer.
Also, the Hornets play their first game in New Orleans, having left Charlotte after last season. They host the Utah Jazz, who played in the Crescent City from 1974-79 before moving to Salt Lake City. Commissioner David Stern will attend that contest.
There will be a University of North Carolina reunion of sorts in Toronto as former Tar Heels Michael Jordan and Vince Carter square off once again when the new-look Washington Wizards visit the Toronto Raptors.
Washington will start the season with five new starters, among them former Detroit Pistons star Jerry Stackhouse, as Jordan has indicated a willingness to come off the bench to benefit the team.
Carter missed the Raptors' final 13 games last season because of knee surgery. Toronto used a nine-game winning streak without him to help earn its third straight playoff berth. The Raptors won a pair of home games before falling to Detroit in five games in the first round.
